Contrasting wins for Saina, Sindhu

 Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal fought her way back from a game down to win her opening round match, while compatriot PV Sindhu crushed her opponent to storm into the second round of the Australian Super Series here on Wednesday. 

Saina will now take on compatriot PC Thulasi, who overcome USA’s Jamie Subandhi 21-16, 21-18. Saina, who has struggled with injuries, lost the first game, but rallied in a fine fashion to beat her unseeded Chinese rival Sun Yu 22-24, 21-17,  21-10 in her opening round match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes. 

Eighth seeded Sindhu, meanwhile, had an easy outing against her unseeded Japanese opponent Aya Ohori, who she defeated 21-16, 21-14 in just 31 minutes to set up a second round clash with Nichaon Jindapon of Thailand. 

It was a mixed result for the Indians in the men’s singles first round, as World no. 77 B Sai Praneeth brushed aside local shuttler Hoe Keat Oon 21-7, 21-11 but HS Prannoy crashed out to Marc Zwiebler 14-21, 18-21.